England strike World Cup gold as Aussies claim bronze
Adrian Warren |
Joe Coyd bagged four tries as England won a record third Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup, while hosts Australia bounced back to form to take bronze.
In a thrilling final featuring huge momentum shifts, England scored nine tries to seven to win 50-38 at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre on Friday.
Earlier Australia clinched third spot, scoring 12 tries to five in a 70-24 demolition of Ireland.
Wheelaroos captain Bayley McKenna totted up 26 points from three tries and seven conversions.
Player of the match Dan Anstey also bagged a try hat-trick, and Toby Popple and Diab Karim each crossed twice.
England have contested all five World Cup finals, the past four against France, and became the first nation to score 50 points in the tournament decider.
Coyd had a massive influence on the game, notching the most tries, tackles (40), line breaks (five) and run metres (152).
Jack Brown, in his fifth World Cup, scored three tries on his way to collecting a third winner’s medal, and three-time Golden Boot winner Robert Hawkins scored England’s two other four-pointers.
“That was an incredible display, it was just so much fun,” Brown said.
Coyd scored England’s first three tries, powering his way through some ineffective defence for his first two four-pointers, which came inside eight minutes.
France hit back hard and capitalised on turnovers and slick and quick ball movement to score the next four tries to lead 22-10.
Another momentum shift favoured England, who poured on three consecutive tries to establish a 28-22 halftime advantage.
France were level within three minutes of the restart with a converted try from Dany Denuwelaere, but almost immediately the irrepressible Hawkins planted the ball down in the corner.
England were never headed again, playing the more clinical game, despite Denuwelaere scoring three second-half tries.
“We had an amazing game, but it was hard-fought,” Hawkins said.
Coyd said France were a great team to play against.
“We love nothing more than playing them,” he said.
In the bronze-medal match, Australia scored the first 16 points and piled on 36 in a row either side of halftime to lead 52-4 early in the second half.
Ireland showed plenty of fight to score four straight tries to cut the deficit to 28, but Australia rattled up the last 16 points, with McKenna getting his second and third four-pointers.
Australia scored more than 100 points in each of their first two games, but were coming off successive heavy losses to France and England,
“We spent the last couple of days since our last game against England reviewing and going over the stuff we did wrong,” McKenna said.
“Tonight we were versing a different side, but I think we nullified most of these things.”
AAP